A Trail of Needles

The Christmas decorations are put away.

A few home organization projects are completed.

We have been enjoying a restful week, mostly at home.

This time of year makes me start reflecting over this last year. It has been a "heck" of a year.

Some good, some bad.

As stressful as relocation is, we are happy with the results. It was a good move for us.

It was tough to see miss Greta go off to school. She loves it and it has been a positive experience.

The death of my mom. It is something I deal with everyday and has changed me as a person. I miss her.

All in all, I am ready to say goodbye to 2010 and look forward. It was quite a year.

Here are some pics from a lazy Sunday drive we took. So beautiful. It is time to really begin exploring our new home.

Some Images of Christmas 2010

Cracker Time...and our prize crowns.
Them..5 years and 2 years.

Santa Tracking..late at night.

Their upteenth round of acoustic Christmas Carols. All evening Christmas Eve and early Christmas morning. So cute. Their favorites, Feliz Navidad and Silent Night.

Tired Pudger.... Falling asleep in his soup bowl at lunch on Christmas Day. Spoon and roll in each hand.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that you're ready for a New Year!

Christmas Eve

11:20 p.m.

I hear footsteps upstairs. They belong to the eldest.

Upstairs blinds are cracked open.....searching for a sleigh.

Not sure if Miss Belle will go to sleep tonight.

As for Fieldin, he was apprehensive before bedtime.

" Santa bring me presents in morning? that nice."

"Santa come in doors? (terrified expressions as he asks)"

Before falling asleep in firm loud tone " I...Afraid of Santa"

To all of you out there having a sleepless night... Merry Christmas. :)

ZooLights

This evening we headed to the Zoo to enjoy the lights with the kids. We had a very fun time and had great weather. I saw a shrub with buds and new leaves today. Is it winter or spring?

Snake!!!
On the elephant.

I loved the hippos.

Greta and her special viewing glasses. She also got her pic taken with Rudolph and a dinosaur.

With their favorite bird, the puffin!

We spent the car ride to Portland singing songs. Fieldin has Silent Night and Jingle Bells down. I love hearing them both sing for me. There was also a popcorn fight in the backseat, counting practice, Fieldin saying "zoinks!", Christmas light spotting and lots of giggling. Oh yeah...and a few presents were opened today! early practice.

Scenes Around The Tree

We had one of those joyous days today; we just stayed home. Nowhere to go, nowhere to be. This gave us a whole day of admiring our neglected tree. I got sneeky with my camera and caught some pics of today's tree time.

Rudy the sock monkey got to fulfill his dream of being King Kong, or so it looks. This must have been exciting for Rudy. Since I made him 5 years ago, he usually just hangs out on the sofa around the holidays. This year he has been up to all sorts of mischief thanks to a couple little ones....

All superheros must fly over Christmas trees. Getting the glittery angel at the top is extra bonus points.

Hugs and dancing around the twinkling lights.

And an image I am reminded of from Fieldin's first Christmas here.

And his daily "fixing" of the tree. The tree started sparse and is now covered with ornaments made by the kids. A pretty special tree indeed.

A Quote From Linus

Being the youngest I must agree. Linus your cool. No wonder Fieldin is obsessed with you.

"Big Sister's are the crabgrass in the lawn of life"

Storybook Land

We enjoyed Storybook land this week with the kids and some friends. We visited last year; before we moved and were on a visit to find a place to live. The kids loved it and couldn't wait to go again this year(minus visiting Santa for Fieldy this year). Jeff and I really enjoy this too. There are so many fun scenes and the wonderful smell of fresh cut trees...

Fieldin and Frosty..
Fieldin loved the huge tables of running trains. He kept running to chase them.

The kids walking through the final leg.
Fieldy loved seeing Mickey and the gang, stitch, cars, scooby doo, 101 Dalmations and Snoopy. Greta loved all the Disney Princesses, Scooby Doo and the beautiful Victorian town.

The moving Bear displays..

In other news: We have been busy teaching Fieldin to Sing"Call me Dr. Love" and "Ho Ho Ho, where's my cookies? Where's my milk?", Both kids had a great day at soccer practice, low low tides "forced" me to head to the ocean to find sea glass and shells. Mission Completed!!, we are enjoying watching a blank wall fill up with holiday cards, lots of coloring, lots of Snoopy, lots of Winter birds in the backyard, Greta says her second name is Danger Belle and Fieldin's is Trouble Crewe and a fun Christmas party in Gret's class.

7 more days people....Ho, Ho, Ho!!!!